Overtime on Twitter: The PM (live!), dreams of glory (dead)

Witticisms flooded the Twittersphere last night just as quickly as Russians flooded the Canadian zone. As hockey fans watched the third-period debacle at the World Junior Hockey Championships, Twitter erupted. At the end of it all, observers in certain circles resorted to the only thing they had left: Cynical 140-character jabs about Canada’s other sport.

First, the set up: TSN coverage of the gold-medal game opened with live shots of Prime Minister Stephen Harper nestled somewhere behind chip bowls at 24 Sussex. Like the rest of the country, he and his family and friends were anticipating a repeat of Olympic fervour.

It was glorious — and hockey fans on Twitter were eager to share. Industry Minister Tony Clement (TonyClement_MP) tweeted a photo of himself in a Canada jersey.

“Fingers crossed!” typed Harper’s communications director Dimitri Soudas (PmoSoudas) when the team was up 3-0. “Prime Minister Harper along with all of Canada watching our Juniors. Minus one person!” (Maybe that individual had a sense of where the night was headed.)

To judge by Twitter, there was joy nationwide. But there was also bemusement: Why so many cuts to the Harpers?

“Did pierre mcguire really just reference sussex drive?” twasked Graham Hnatiuk of Winnipeg (@Progwinnipeg). “The only thing I like about PM Harper is his love of hockey,” said John Bennet (@johnmbennett). Many viewers/Tweeters were slightly less kind.

As the Russian goals poured in, the Twitterverse heaved. There were no more live shots from Harper’s house. “Why don’t they cut to the Prime Minister now?” asked CBC host George Stroumboulopoulos (@strombo).

As the game ended, Clement advised his followers, “I’m now gonna watch my DVD of the Habs vs Central Army game from 1975. Maybe there’s some answers there …”

The mad typing continued as the loss sunk in. Gradually the dismay was replaced by snark. Pundits and politicos returned their attention to Canada’s other blood sport.